Of course his defense is brutal, but the National League teams will get a shot at him before the BoSox get a go. I’ve always wondered if he’d benefit from a shift down the defensive spectrum, say from OF > 1B or DH.

I just don’t agree with Passan’s column on Barret Loux and the Diamondbacks not taking up his contract on medical grounds, and instead receiving compensation picks.

I agree with the evidence described. Barret was taken in the first round and reported for medical checks. The medical checks were a problem, showing both that he had injuries to his shoulder (labrium tear) and elbow(may require Tommy John). But I don’t agree that the Diamondbacks are refusing to sign Barret so they can acquire compensation picks. This seems a nutty causal relationship to me.

If the Diamondbacks don’t think he’s healthy they aren’t obliged to sign him. All agreements are contingent on medical checks, and Barret has apparently missed.

Beyond that, the rule that allows teams to receive compensation picks would largely seem to have been enacted to compensate teams for players refusing to sign, and I understand holdouts are the most regular use of the rule.

While the medical reports are personally shattering for Barret, I don’t understand it makes any sense to handle holdouts(which largely benefit players) any differently.

May 12, 2010

So I have this theory that we sometimes take some of our workhorses for granted (nee Tim Wakefield). With this thought in mind I heard mention on Sunday Night Baseball that Jon Lester’s current win-loss record matched Roger Clemens at the same point of his career…

March 23, 2010

A great piece from Sean McAdam of NECN discussing how the Mauer signing changes the landscape with no comperable option will exist in 2011 for the RedSox or Yankees… He also balances that against he risk that while Victor is a great catcher he’s an average 1B/DH – and much better options such as Fielder / Pujols / Howard who will be available in the same time interval… Sean does great work.

March 15, 2010

So here’s the proposed mechanism for determining draft order for the BosoxListA Draft this year. Thanks to Mike Webb for coming up with the bulk of the idea.

1) Each manager needs to respond to this post with a number in the range [100 to 700] (eg: 499), Their team name and their keeper player.
2) Once numbers are in, we will pick a suitable URL for a public news piece. I will cut an paste this (with URL first) into a text editor and the number a manager chooses will correspond to a word in the news piece. Draft order will be ANSI alphabetical order of the word matching the number you chose. I will post draft order, keepers and the reference document used here.
3) New Managers will be able to select a keeper in reverse order (later draft picks choose keepers first).

February 16, 2010

1) Theo is saying he’s going to see about getting Mikey Lowell playtime at First Base. Makes sense.
2) VMart is saying he’s open to talking about a contract extension.
3) The Sox are apparently interested in Cuba’s top ranked RHP from 2009, Yuniesky Maya. He’s said to have great control, but his fastball sits at 88-92mph and projects in the back half of the rotation after minor league time.

Followed by a quality update from the globe:
4) Sox will mix Mikey at 3B and 1B when he’s ready after surgery.
5) No truth to Johnny Damon rumors.
6) DiceK is back in Boston on business and will be back. He and the team are good.
7) Despite not having many open roster spots, there 70 players in camp early, which means they’re getting the league diem until camp opens. Some free agents intrigue him, but they may want more opportunity.
8 ) He’s glad VMart likes the team but has no comment.

February 14, 2010

In case you missed it, PECOTA projects the Sox to win the ALEast with a 94:68 record over the Yanks 92:70 and Tampa 91:71. 3 Teams tie for first in the Central Chicago, Tigers, Twins with 80:82, and the Rangers win the West on 87:75. Perhaps most amazingly the Angels fall below .500 to 76:86.

Hooley Dooley I can see some tears before bedtime🙂 Honestly though I think PECOTA might be treating some of the New Yankee Stadium HR silliness as an aberration to be corrected this year, which obviously isn’t going to happen.